Zafra

Zafra is a town situated in the Province of Badajoz (Spain), where it is one of the most important. It has a population of 15,542, according to the figures of 2004.

History

Human traces of great antiquity have been found in the area. In the "El Castellar" mountains are located caves with pictograms. Also, a fort dating to the Bronze Age was found in the nearby chapel of Belén.

Related Topics:
Pictograms - Fort - Bronze Age

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In the surrounding areas there are many Roman villas, reminiscent of the the legendary Segeda, which could be the origen in the town. A significant fact is that Zafra is located between the Mérida, the ancient capital of the Roman province of Lusitania, and Seville, the capital of the province of Baetica.

Related Topics:
Roman - Villas - Segeda - Mérida - Lusitania - Seville - Baetica

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In medieval times, Zafra was situated on the border which divided the domains of Seville and Badajoz, and in 1030 a defensive fortification was contructed in the Castellar Mountains. This fort would be named Sajra Abi Hassán by the Moorish geographer Al-Bakrí in 1094. The Arabs named the town Safra, or Cafra, from which is derived today's Zafra.

Related Topics:
Seville - Badajoz - 1030 - Sajra Abi Hassán - Moorish - Al-Bakrí - 1094 - Arabs

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During the Reconquista, Zafra was captured twice by Christian forces, first in 1229 by Alfonso IX, and then definatively by Ferdinand III, in a campaign through present-day Extremadura described in Alfonso X's Crónica General de España (General History of Spain).

Related Topics:
Reconquista - Christian - 1229 - Alfonso IX - Ferdinand III - Extremadura - Alfonso X

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However, the most momentous change was the granting of the city by Enrique III to Gomes Suárez de Figueroa, who until then had been a servant to the queen and son of the Grand Master of the Order of Santiago. Gomes' son and second title-holder, Lorenzo Suárez de Figueroa, began little by little to make Zafra the center of the domain of Feria. He started building a wall with the dual purpose of defense and control of neighbors, merchants, and travelers. Its construction lasted from 1426 to 1449 (or 1442). Also in 1437 he ordered the construction of one of the most emblematic buildings of the city, El Alcázar, which would be his residence. Aditionally, he funded the hospital of Santiago and finished the Convent of the Clares of Saint Mary of the Valley, which would be used as a mausoleum for his family. In 1460, Enrique IV raised the district to the status of a county, and added the villages of Halconer y La Morena to Lorenzo's domain.

Related Topics:
Enrique III - Gomes Suárez de Figueroa - Order of Santiago - Lorenzo Suárez de Figueroa - Feria - 1426 - 1449 - 1442 - 1437 - Mausoleum - 1460 - Enrique IV

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In the 16th and 17th centuries the city was modernized, an example of which was the conversion of the Alcázar into a palace of the Austrian style, and a new church was completed. All this modernization was begun when the fifth count of Feria was raised to a duke and grandee in 1567, for his contributions to the state under Felipe II.

Related Topics:
Austrian - Duke - Grandee - 1567 - Felipe II

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In the 17th century, the Dukedom of Feria was united with the Marqueship of Priego, and in the 18th century it was integrated with the Dukedom of Medinacelli.

Related Topics:
Priego - Medinacelli

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Zafra has always been an industrial and comercial city that has served as a provider for the surrounding areas, which were mainly dedicated to agriculture. A commercial base are the fairs that have been celebrated for Saint John since 1395 and for Saint Michael since 1453.

Related Topics:
Saint John - 1395 - Saint Michael - 1453

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